Apparatus and method for applying a coating to a can body
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the manufacture of one piece aluminum can bodies and more specifically to that portion of the manufacturing operations wherein a coating of lubricant is applied to at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the manufacture of one piece aluminum can bodies, a coating of lubricant is applied to the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body next adjacent to the open end thereof. In the prior art applicators, the can bodies are driven across a wick or a roll using moving belts in contact with the side walls of the can bodies to rotate them. While this method has proven to be effective in applying the coating of lubricant, there are many instances wherein the belts damage the can bodies. Also, it is difficult to maintain a constant relationship between the rotating can body and the applicator so that an uneven layer of the coating of lubricant is often applied. If a can body is not properly located when it is contacted by the belts, it is possible for the can body to be tilted and hung up thus causing the can body to cause a jam-up of the flow of can bodies. Therefore, there existed a need for a system for applying a coating of lubricant to the outer peripheral surface of a can body that is able to precisely position the can body against the lubricant applying means and to handle the can body so that the least amount of deleterious forces are applied thereto. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides apparatus and method for applying a coating of lubricant to at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body using a rotating turret having a plurality of pockets on its outer peripheral surface with a can body held and rotated in each pocket so that when the can body moves into contact with an arcuate wick having a supply of lubricant therein, an even coating of lubricant is applied to at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a main drive shaft is rotatable mounted on a fixedly mounted support frame and is rotated by suitable means such as a drive motor. A turret is mounted on the main drive shaft for rotation therewith and a plurality of pockets are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the turret. Feed means are fixedly mounted on the support frame and provide a continuous supply of can bodies so that, as the turret rotates, one portion of each pocket removes the bottommost can body from the feed means as it passes thereby. Each of the pockets has a pair of rolls which are rotatably mounted on the turret for rotation relative thereto and have axes of rotation which are in parallel relationship. Each of the rolls has a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface with oppositely facing portions of adjacent rolls spaced a small distance apart. Vacuum means are provided for supplying a vacuum between the oppositely facing portions of the pairs of rolls so as to hold the can body in the pocket against the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of rolls to establish line contact therebetween. While vacuum means are preferred for holding the can body in the pocket, other types of holding means may be employed, such as magnets for iron containing can bodies. A stationary gear is mounted at a fixed location. A gear is fixedly mounted on each of the rolls and is located so as to be in mesh with the stationary gear so that rotation of the turret rotates the rolls and therefore the can body supported thereon. A lubricant supplying means is adjustably mounted on the support frame and comprises an arcuate wick which is located so as to be contacted by at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body as the turret rotates. Lubricant feeding means are provided for supplying lubricant to the arcuate wick. Each can body is rotated about its own axis so that the peripheral velocity of the outer peripheral surface of each can body is the same as its peripheral velocity due to the rotation of the turret about its own axis and is rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turret so that there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the outer peripheral surface of the can body and the arcuate wick as the coating of lubricant is applied to the can body. The at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the arcuate wick for at least one complete revolution of the can body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 with parts in section; and 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and comprises a fixedly mounted support frame 2 on which is mounted can body feeding means 4 for holding a plurality of can bodies 6, FIG. 4, and having guide arms 8 for guiding the movement of a can body 6 as it is removed from the can body feeding means 4 as described below. A main drive shaft 10 is mounted for rotation in a bearing 12, FIGS. 3 and 4, mounted on the support frame 2 and is rotated by conventional drive means, such as a motor 14. A turret 16 is mounted on the main drive shaft 10 for rotation therewith and has a plurality of pockets 18, FIGS. 1 and 5, each of which has a radially outwardly projecting member 20 having an arcuate surface 22 and is located so that, as the turret 16 rotates, the member 20 removes a can body 6 as it moves through the can body feeding means 4. Can body holding means 24, are provided for each pocket 18 and function to hold a can body 6 in a pocket 18 so that at least a portion 26, FIG. 4, of the outer peripheral surface 28 of the can body 6 is freely exposed. Can body rotating means 30 are provided for rotating the can bodies 6 as the turret 16 rotates. Arcuately shaped lubricant applying means 32, described more fully below, are adjustably mounted on the support frame 2 and have an arcuately shaped wick 34, FIGS. 2 and 4, saturated with liquid lubricant and located so as to be contacted by the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface 28 of a can body 6 as the turret 16 rotates. The operation of the invention is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 wherein the can body rotating means 30 rotates each can body 6 about its own axis so that the peripheral velocity of the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface 28 is substantially the same as its peripheral velocity imparted thereto by the rotation of the turret 16 about its own axis and is moving in a clockwise direction as compared to the movement of the turret in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the various arrows in FIG. 2, so that there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface 28 and the arcuately shaped wick 34 as the coating of lubricant is being applied. The arcuately shaped wick 34 has an arcuate extent which cooperates with the velocities of the turret 16 and the can body 6 to ensure that the can body 6 has at least one complete revolution while the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface 28 is in contact with the arcuately shaped wick 34. 
     The turret 16 comprises an axially outer annular member 40, FIGS. 3 and 4, which is mounted on a flange portion 42 integral with the main drive shaft 10 by headed threaded bolts 44 passing through arcuately shaped slots 45 to provide for adjustment thereof. The axially outer annular member 40 has an axially inwardly projecting annular flange 46 having a generally planar surface 48 in contact with a generally planar surface 50 of the flange portion 42. The axially outer annular member 40 has a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 52, FIG. 4, and a plurality of openings 54 extending therethrough in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main drive shaft 10 wherein pairs of the openings 54, FIG. 5, are spaced equidistantly apart and are located the same distance radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surface 52. 
     An annular central body portion 60 has a generally cylindrical inner surface 62 through which the main drive shaft 10 passes and a radially outwardly extending recess 64 having a generally cylindrical surface 66 in contact with the generally cylindrical outer surface 68 of the flange portion 42. The annular central body portion 60 has a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 70 having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 52. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart compartments 72 extend radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surface 70 and each compartment 72 has an opening 74 extending therethrough in an axial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main drive shaft 10. 
     An axially inner annular member 80 has a generally cylindrical inner surface 82 through which the main drive shaft 10 passes and has a generally planar surface 84 in contact with a generally planar surface 86 of the annular central body portion 60. A plurality of equidistantly spaced apart openings 88 extend through the axially inner annular member 80 in an axial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main drive shaft 10 are in alignment with the openings 74 in the annular central body portion 60. The axially inner annular member 80 has a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 90 and a plurality of openings 92 extending therethrough in an axial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main draft shaft 10 wherein pairs of the openings 92 are spaced equidistantly apart and are located the same distance radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surface 90 similar to the pairs of openings 52. A plurality of headed threaded bolts 94 extend through openings in the axially outer annular member 40, the annular central body portion 60 and are threaded into threaded openings 96 in the axially inner annular member 80 to secure the annular central body portion 60 and the axially inner annular member 80 to the axially outer annular member 40 for rotation therewith. An annular wear plate 98 is secured on the generally planar surface 100 of the axially inner annular member 80. The annular wear plate 98 has a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart openings 102 extending therethrough in an axial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main drive shaft 10 and each opening 102 is aligned with the openings 74 and 88 and has a generally planar annular surface 104 for purposes described below. 
     A roll 110 has a central body portion 112 having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 114 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the generally cylindrical inner surface of the openings 52 and 92 has end portions 116 and 118 which are mounted in bearings 120 secured in the openings 52 and 92. A gear 126 is mounted on the end portion 118 so that rotation of the gear 126, as described below, rotates the roll 110. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114 have oppositely facing portions 128 and 130 slightly spaced apart for purposes described below. Each of the pockets 18 has a pair 140 of the shafts 110 and the radially outwardly projecting members 20 the arcuate surfaces 22 for guiding the can bodies onto the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114. 
     Manifold means 142, FIGS. 2 and 3, are resiliently movably mounted by rods 144 on the support frame 2 and are connected to a vacuum producing means 146 by flexible tubing 148 connected to an opening 150 in the manifold means 142. An arcuately shaped recess 152, FIGS. 4 and 5, has one end portion 154 associated with the can body feeding means 4 and the other end portion 156 at a can body discharge station. The centerline of the arcuately shaped recess 152 is in alignment with the centers of the openings 74, 88 and 102. A spring 158 is mounted on each of the rods 144 and bears against a flange 160 on the support frame 2 and the outer surface 162 of the manifold means 142 to urge the generally planar surface 164 against the generally planar surface 104 of the annular wear plate 98. The rods 144 are slidably mounted in bushings 166 secured in the support frame 2. The foregoing structure functions to provide a vacuum between the oppositely facing portions 128 and 130 when the aligned openings 74, 88 and 102 are opposite the arcuate recess 152 during the rotation of the turret 16 so as to hold a can body 6 against the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114 of the rolls 110. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, a recess 170 facing the turret 16 is formed in the manifold means 142. A stationary gear 172 is mounted in the recess 170 by bolts 174 and has a plurality of teeth 176 located so as to be in engagement with the teeth of the gears 126 so that rotation of the turret 16 rotates the gears 126 and therefore the rolls 110 so as to rotate the can body 6 in contact with the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114. 
     The arcuately shaped lubricant applying means 32, FIG. 4, comprises an arcuately shaped support 180 having an inverted U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration formed by a cover plate 182 secured thereto by a plurality of threaded nuts and bolts 184. The arcuately shaped wick 34 is secured between the arcuately shaped support 180 and the cover plate 182 and a plurality of hoses 186, FIG. 1, are connected through the arcuately shaped support 180 to the arcuately shaped wick 34 to supply a liquid lubricant thereto. The arcuately shaped wick 34 is preferably formed from a lubricant holding material such as an open cell polyurethane foam. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the arcuately shaped support 180 is adjustably mounted on the support frame 2 by a pair of spaced apart plate members 188 secured to the support frame 2 and each having an extension arm 190 extending outwardly therefrom in the direction of the turret 16 and having a generally planar surface 192. Another pair of spaced apart plate members 194 having flange portions 196 which are mounted on the arcuately shaped support 180 by suitable means, such as bolts (not shown). Each plate member 194 has a generally planar surface 198 in sliding contact with the generally planar surface 192. Each plate member 188 has a slot 200 formed therein which cooperates with headed bolts 202 for adjustment of the arcuately shaped support 180 in linear directions as indicated by the arrow 204. Each plate member 194 has a slot 206 formed therein which cooperates with headed bolts 208 and nuts 210 for adjustment of the arcuately shaped support 180 in linear directions as indicated by the arrow 212. 
     In operation, can bodies 6 are continuously supplied to the can body feeding means 4. As the turret 16 rotates, the radially outwardly projecting member 20 contacts the bottom-most can body 6 in the can body feeding means 4 to remove such can body 6. The arcuately shaped surface 22 guides the can body 6 onto the generally cylindrical outer surfaces 114. The trailing side 190 is also provided with an arcuate surface 192 to ensure that the can body 6 is seated on the cylindrical outer surfaces 114. When the can body 6 is seated on the cylindrical outer surfaces 114, it does not contact either of the arcuate surfaces 22 and 192. As illustrated in FIG. 5, as the can body 6 is positioned on the generally cylindrical outer surfaces 114, the turret 16 has rotated so that the compartment 72 therebeneath has been connected to the vacuum source 146 through the recess 152 so that a vacuum in the compartment 72 holds the can body 6 in contact with the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114. The guide arms 8 guide the can body 6 into the proper position on the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114 so that the at least a portion 26 thereof will be properly oriented so as to contact the arcuate wick 34. As described above, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the can body 6 is rotated so that its peripheral velocity is equal to the peripheral velocity of the turret 16 so that there is no relative sliding motion between the portion 26 of the can body 6 and the corresponding portion of the arcuate wick 34 that it is rolled over. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the turret 16 has rotated the compartment 72 past the vacuum cut off 156, the can body 6 may be removed from the pocket 18 by suitable means (not shown) for further processing. The lubricant applied to the can body may be varied according to the further processing operations and may comprise such materials as a mineral oil, a melted petrolatum or other liquid materials. 
     While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.